Book 2 Chapter 14 (Patreon)

A storm welcomed the Wedge when it approached Woodson University. The powerful winds interfered with the wind bubble spell, protecting the vessel and forcing it to lose altitude and fly closer to the ground.

Ygg, daughter of Yggdrasil, the focal point of the continent’s leylines and wellspring of magic, stood over the giant circular city. It protected the buildings from the torrential downpour. iant waterfalls cascaded from the canopy along the city’s edge. Mana lamps illuminating the streets and homes twinkled through the screens of water. The especially distorted multi-colored lights coming from the university’s main building gave the city an almost ethereal appearance. Nox imagined artists would’ve loved to capture the sight in a grand masterpiece.

Each of the city's rings had different levels of luminosity. The innermost circle—the university—shone the brightest with varying colors. In contrast, the Market Ring and Noble Quarter had less variety but a more uniform pattern. The latter of the two sections was significantly less luminous than the rest of the city. The light sources appeared more spread out. Nox guessed they left more room for green spaces. The mansions and estates occupied more space as well. Meanwhile, the outer two rings featured more orange and yellow shades, suggesting low-quality mana lamps or firelight. The lights became more densely populated closer to the city's outermost Wall, and their distribution had no patterns.

During Nox's four months in the City of Ygg, he had spent all of his time in the two central rings and visited the Noble Quarter only a handful of times. He had only seen the two outer sections from the air. The bulk of the city's residents resided there. They had their own markets and delvers, ranked journeyman and below, and spent most of their time there. Apparently, accommodation, entertainment, and general living costs were significantly lower.

As Nox studied the city from the sky, he noted how the ground was carved into steps. He guessed powerful mages had terraformed the area by making the inner rings higher than the outer. He had noticed how sections of the central road sloped in sections—especially around the walls—but never paid it any mind. Beyond the Noble Quarter, the entire city appeared built on an incline. Deep canals carried the rainwater away from Ygg, under each wall. Once beyond city limits, the streams merged with reservoirs. They connected to irrigation channels and fields dotting the landscape.

The Wedge weaved past the larger screens of water descending from Ygg’s giant leaves. Air traffic was high, and the vessel had to circle the university’s air dock. A good half an hour passed before they found a place to land. The crew rushed the passengers off the boat and were just as quick about unloading the cargo.

It was tempting to rush to the new shopfront and check on the contractors’ progress, but they didn’t because of the late hour and weather. Instead, Nox and Lillin stayed with Kris for the night. Meanwhile, Ernest miniaturized the petrified myconid and stored them for Nox in frost-enchanted containers.

Despite the weather, Kris insisted they dine out at the pauper's cafeteria. She paid for all three of them and bought mugs of warm spiced mead. Nox added a few drops of Spirit Caller's Tea before indulging. He had tried it once during the voyage and dreamt of flying serpents and cloud beasts. Now that he was under Ygg's canopy again, Nox wished to see Ygg and Bi Xi. The mysterious tortoise lingered at the back of Nox's mind, and he wanted to investigate the spirit.

Only half the usual vendors populated the cafeteria. A little over a week remained until the next semester's start. University staff, researchers, some artisans, and their assistants still roamed the campus and utilized the dining hall. Nox planned to visit it for his midday meals.

Before leaving the city, Nox and Lillin had spoken to university staff regarding the change in circumstances. They no longer needed housing or food. Instead, they would use the cafeteria when required and pay per visit. The pair still needed to pay the university fifty gold each to cover the remainder of their tuition.

"I'd like your help once we're done eating, Lillin," Kris said halfway through the meal.

"I'm exhausted," Lillin whined. "Can't it wait until tomorrow morning?"

Kris shook her head. "A dark and stormy night is perfect for covert affairs. Don't worry. We don't have to go far; it won't take long. You must help me transport a few things back to my apartment."

She meant it when Kris said they didn't have to go far. The professor led the pair out of the cafeteria, along the building's walls, and to its rear. She stopped around fifty feet from the entrance used for deliveries and oversized goods. At first, Nox saw nothing. Then, when Kris traced a handful of magic circles in the air, white arcane symbols appeared on the wall, followed by a door.

"You're on lookout duty," she told Nox before disappearing through the secret door with Lillin.

A thumb bite, quick cantrip, and blood smear later, Otis manifested on Nox's shoulder. The furry gremlin appeared bigger, and the large puppy-like eyes had a new sharpness to them. The telepathic bond between the familiar and master conveyed an increase in intelligence.

"Scout our surroundings, buddy," Nox said, yawning. Auditory instructions proved unnecessary. Otis zipped away before he finished the sentence. The gremlin knew to look for anyone watching them from around corners. Nox didn't see the danger and risks involved with whatever Kris was up to, so he kept his hands on the rod attached to his belt.

The professor returned a handful of minutes later with Lillin in tow. Neither woman said anything to Nox. He glanced at the latter questioningly and got no answer.

"Later," Lillin mouthed when he nudged her.

Otis bounced along walls behind the trio, regularly sending Nox updates. The gremlin neither saw nor sensed anything of note. He only highlighted rare pedestrians walking in the same direction as them. None appeared particularly interested in Kris or the students. Some looked like academics returning to their quarters after an evening of research, while the rest seemed to be cafeteria or janitorial staff.

Once they returned to the apartment, Kris swiftly cleared her home office's side table and desk. Then Lillin emptied her dimensional storage, laying our journals, ledgers, tomes, tapestries, bric-a-brac, a couple of small weapons, and a few obvious artifacts. A lantern emitting lights of mixed and shifting hues caught Nox's attention. He sensed various essences from it. They appeared in flux. What felt like fire changed to lightning a moment later, then pure mana, followed by energy Nox didn't recognize and fire again. Several such existences filled the mysterious object.

"What is all of this?" Nox asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I suspect the cults have something to do with Terrastalia's behavior," Kris said. "So I hired agents to liberate a few articles from the Smythe mansion and a few other suspects' homes. The abductions might’ve ceased. The city and inquisitors might be satisfied, but I'm not."

"You think people are behind the dungeon's rampage, the rifts, and blights?" Nox raised an eyebrow. "Don't you think divine powers might be at play? It feels like a bit much for a small cult. Given how easily we took them apart and captured the bastards, they weren't particularly strong or well organized."

"I think the cell we took down, Terrastalia's rampage, the myconids are all part of an elaborate distraction. Smythe and our old quartermaster friend reported worshipping the All-Father. That's Odin. I'm sure he fell almost a century ago and was slain before completing his dungeon. A deity of his might would’ve birthed another archon dungeon, and the continent would be an entirely different space. I could, of course, be wrong." She waved at the stolen articles. "Hence all of this."

"But—"

Loud knocking interrupted the conversation. It didn't come from the front door but from the office window. Kris gestured at her students to keep silent. Her left palm glowed orange, and she ripped the curtains aside with her right. A pair of eyes looked at her from the darkness. The irises glowed like azure flames, and a similarly colored spearhead floated above.

Nox was in the middle of preparing a spell, and Lillin had just conjured a gravity orb when the professor opened the window.

"Come in," Kris said.

A dark-skinned man climbed through the opening. His complexion and features resembled Professor Das and Roque Singh—Annabelle’s late fiance. Nox knew without a doubt that he was of the Southern Continent. The man's drenched clothes gave away his skinny frame, and he stood a couple of inches shorter than Nox—making him significantly shorter than the locals. Otis had highlighted him but didn't report anything suspicious.

"Do you know why I'm here?" The man asked Kris.

"I can make guesses from the spearhead," Kris replied. "The broker also pointed you out to me, too. Care to tell me what you're doing with that?" She pointed at the glass blade floating over his left shoulder. "Were you not supposed to stash it with everything you liberated?"

"There were complications. I had no choice but to pact with—" He glanced at Nox and Lillin. The man's expression betrayed his anxiety. "People are hunting me. They're not Imperium Inquisition or City Guard. I need your help."

"And why should I help you?" Kris crossed her arms. "The pay should cover hazard pay."

"Because I have magic now that I can't control," the man answered. "And if I'm captured, I don't know if I have it in me to keep my employer's identity secret during interrogations."

"He's a warlock," Nox whispered to Lillin. The revelation intrigued him. He had studied the unique mages and pacts at length during the previous semester.

Kris said nothing for what felt like an eternity. When her palm ceased glowing, Nox and Annabelle relaxed as well. The warlock’s veiled threat appeared to have struck a chord with the professor. She walked past him and closed the window.

"Nox. Lillin. The pair of you may share my bedroom tonight. Joey and I need to talk. Alone."

"Yes, professor."

Nox and Lillin pressed their ears against the bedroom door when they closed it, eager to learn more about the warlock and the thievery Kris had commissioned. The man had somehow bypassed Otis's detection, too.

"I'm sorry I claimed the relic for myself," the warlock said. His accent suggested he originated from the continent’s far south. It wasn't quite like Professor Das's, but it was close. "The guards were on to me, and the dj—"

"Hold on a moment," Kris said.

Nox heard her footsteps approaching, and the pair leaped from the door. Tapping on either side of the doorframe followed. When the pair pressed their ears against the wood again, they heard nothing but silence.

"The bitch warded it." Lillin sighed. "She makes us walk through the rain to get her junk, and we don't even get to learn the juicy details."

"I'm her apprentice," Nox said. "She'll tell me." He hesitated. "Eventually. Maybe."